Hello again!
We're continuing to get deeper into EX12, which means we're getting deeper into the experimentation phase. As a reminder, this is the most volatile period of any format, and with over six weeks of EX12 still ahead of us, we're only just getting started.
A few weeks in, players are still testing new ideas, trying different deck builds, and exploring strategies that weren't obvious on day one. Aggressive decks tend to dominate early because they give opponents the least amount of time to adapt, but as the format develops we'll start to see more refined lists designed specifically to answer those early frontrunners. That's when the meta really begins to settle.
But without further ado, let's dive into the stats.
The Rising Decks
Share: 8.62% ↑0.01%
This rise is so small that we've added an honourable mention this week to make sure it doesn't take a full spot in the snapshot. That said, it's still important to talk about what's happening with Three Musketeers.
Shortly before the release of EX12, we saw the deck's growth begin to plateau, which was a little unexpected. Since then, its popularity has remained relatively stable, but its conversion rate has continued to improve.
That improvement appears to be backed by the increasing homogenisation of decklists. A few weeks ago there was noticeably more variance between builds, but we're now seeing players converge on very similar packages with only a handful of flex slots remaining. Three Musketeers is beginning to look like a solved deck, with the community largely agreeing on the best-in-slot options.
Share: 6.15% ↑1.50%
Last week we saw the first real dip for Bears. We largely attributed that to the release of EX12, but this week's increase suggests the drop was only a temporary blip and players are already returning to the deck.
The biggest area of experimentation right now is the deck's ratios, particularly whether this card deserves a place in the list.
Asuna Shiroki - BT24-088 - BT24-088
It'll be interesting to see whether Bears can continue its climb next week as it works its way up the rankings.
Share: 4.59% ↑0.17%
TS Angels has largely plateaued, with a slight increase in play this week that appears to be nothing more than natural fluctuation. More interestingly, however, the deck's conversion rate continues to improve, which typically leads to increased play over time.
One trend we're beginning to see is players favouring Sepia Memory Boost over Yellow Memory Boost. The trade-off is one less card of dig depth in exchange for access to a black search, which appears to be paying off.
Yellow Memory Boost! - P-037 - P-037
Sepia Memory Boost! - LM-037 - LM-037
Share: 3.74% ↑1.23%
ShineGreymon continues to fluctuate week to week, but the overall trend remains downward. That's backed up by a steadily declining conversion rate, with the deck struggling to convert its representation into strong finishes.
As a result, it's becoming increasingly difficult for players to justify sticking with the current builds. Interestingly, the lists that are finding success are beginning to move away from the established formula, suggesting it may be time for the community to accept that the deck needs to evolve rather than continue refining the same core list.
Honorable Mention
Share: 2.71% ↑0.93%
Saiyu Warriors continues to improve steadily. While its rise has been slower than Toho Braves, the deck's conversion rate is gradually increasing.
Although there's still some way to go before we can consider the deck optimised, one thing is becoming clear: the core package of Saiyu Warriors-tagged Digimon has largely been solved. The remaining experimentation now appears to be focused on refining the ratios around that established core.
The Falling Decks
Share: 10.90% ↓0.24%
The slow decline of Glowing Dawn continues. This trend only began following the release of EX12, suggesting that players are exploring newer strategies while continuing to keep Glowing Dawn in their rotation. Despite the decline, it remains the most-played deck in the format.
Unlike previous format leaders, however, Glowing Dawn isn't pulling away from the rest of the field. Its representation remains high, but the gap to the chasing pack is considerably smaller.
The deck's conversion rate has also dipped slightly. Whether that's a result of players adapting to the matchup or the changing EX12 metagame remains to be seen, but it's a trend worth keeping an eye on.
Share: 4.93% ↓0.99%
After dropping by almost 1% this week, TS Jupitermon's decline appears to be slowing. It's still too early to say with confidence, but based on patterns we've seen with other decks, this could be the point where the deck begins to stabilise.
One thing is becoming increasingly clear, however: Aegionchusmon: Green is falling out of favour. Recent lists have largely moved away from the green package, instead increasing the ratio of blue to better respond to the current metagame.
Aegiochusmon: Green - BT25-053 - BT25-053
Share: 4.23% ↓0.50%
I feel like a broken record at this point, but Styracomon has fallen again this week. The slow, steady decline that began in AD01 continues with no real signs of reversing.
Despite that, the deck remains the sixth most-played deck in the format, which highlights just how dominant it once was. Styracomon held the top spot for much of BT25 before eventually being overtaken by newer contenders.
There also appears to be renewed experimentation among dedicated players. We're seeing a noticeable shift in ratios as players search for a build that can bring the deck back to its former level of success.
Overall Takeaway
EX12 is beginning to move beyond the initial "new toy" phase. While experimentation is still very much underway, we're starting to see several decks converge on their core packages, with optimisation now focusing more on ratios than entirely new ideas.
Glowing Dawn remains the deck to beat despite a gradual decline, while Bears continues to recover from its post-EX12 dip. Three Musketeers and Saiyu Warriors are becoming increasingly refined, and TS Jupitermon appears to be settling after several weeks of decline.
On the other hand, ShineGreymon and Styracomon continue to struggle, with neither deck showing signs of reversing their broader trends.
With several weeks still left in the format, there's plenty of time for the metagame to evolve further, but we're now reaching the point where player refinement is likely to have a greater impact than the release of new cards. The next few snapshots should give us a much clearer picture of which decks are genuine contenders and which early successes were simply a product of the format's opening weeks.
Submit Your Decklists
Every decklist submitted to DCG Nexus helps paint a clearer picture of the metagame. Whether you're playing the latest EX12 deck or sticking with an established favourite, your list contributes to the stats that make these snapshots possible.
As a thank you, every submitted deck also receives its own Deck Fingerprint. Fingerprints compare your list against similar decks in the database, highlighting what makes your build unique through metrics such as level distribution, colour ratios, card types, play cost curve, and more. It's a great way to see how your deck stacks up against the wider metagame and spot the subtle differences that make your build your own.
You can submit your own decklists, or create an event and invite your local community to submit theirs too. The more data we collect, the better the insights become for everyone.
Submit your decklists here: https://dcg-nexus.com/Event/Submit